Issues to Correct When Writing
1. Annotate the directions AND passage. You will find your support while organizing and
developing your ideas, thesis, and essay plan.
2. Craft a clear thesis statement that is unified and argues a point.
3. Any assertion or generalization you make is not valid without proof, which MUST be
explained. Proof, such as a quote, needs support. As a rule, if the quote is three lines in
length, you should spend a minimum of three more lines discussing that quote. In fact,
you should discuss it beyond the quote’s length. Discussing your support/proof will
allow you to develop your ideas and show insight by going beyond the literal, surface level.
It’s the same 3 step process we have continuously discussed: (1) form your
argument/assertion/claim, (2) provide text-based proof that supports step 1, and
(3) explain the proof from step 2, focusing on making connections and
demonstrating your purpose.
4. Understand the difference between paraphrase and analysis. Putting the plot’s
events into your own words (paraphrase) is just summarizing, not analysis. For analysis,
you must examine the events, characters, and language in order to come to justifiable
conclusions that you can support with evidence from the text. Then, you must support
those conclusions/assertions with specific, preferably text-based proof.
5. Understand the difference between “how” and “why.” “Why” refers to what reason,
cause, or purpose. “How” refers to in what manner or way – to what extent, degree, etc.
“How” requires deeper analysis and examination.
6. Show, don’t tell. Don’t tell your audience what you mean, show them.
7. Avoid inappropriate judgments or opinions in your writing. Unless you are writing a
personal essay, you should not use the person pronoun “I.” Character judgments such as
“The counselor is only trying to help Ellen, but she is being mean to him for no reason” are
inappropriate. The prompt did not call for this response; plus, to make a statement like this
requires text-based proof, which will be difficult to find since it is a judgmental opinion.
8. The word “significant” or “significance” means more than just important. Significance
refers to a deeper or hidden meaning. The key is that you should be looking for meaning
when a question includes this word.
9. The titles of novel and larger works of literature are underlined when writing and
italicized when typing. Titles of shorter works like most poems and short stories are
punctuated with quotation marks.
10. Use the present tense when writing about a work of literature. You are discussing
it NOW, not in the past.
11. Use the same verb tense, i.e. keep verb tense consistent.
12. Delete vague, useless words from your writing vocabulary such as “things,” “a lot,”
“stuff,” “many ways” (or any variation of this) and “very.” From now on, consider these
words DEAD.
13. Do not use “we” or “you”; replace with “the reader” or “one.”
14. Know the when and how to use commas and semicolons.*
15. Learn to spell the words that you often have difficulty with.
Commonly confused: there, their, they're; than, then*; conscience, conscious*; affect,
effect*; it's (it is, but do not use contractions in formal composition), its (possessive);
quote (verb), quotation (noun); to, too, two; all right (not alright); desert, dessert; passed,
past; weather, whether; accept, except; should have (not should of). And if the word is in
the prompt or the passage, it absolutely must be spelled correctly.
*See back for more information
Quick Comma and Semicolon Guide
Use a comma when a sentence begins with a subordinating clause, but not when the subordinating
clause is the latter part of the sentence.
Examples: Whenever I think of Jenny Jordan, I imagine her as she looks in a picture taken at my high
school graduation in 1976. (subordinating conjunction is “whenever”)
Her choice of dress surprised no one since Jenny’s favorite color had been red when we were children.
(subordinating conjunction is “since”)

after
although
as
as if
as long as
as soon as
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
as though
in order that
unless
as well as
provided that
until
because
since
when
before
so that
whenever
even though
than
where
if
though
wherever
whether
while
why
Use a semicolon between independent clauses (think: between two complete sentences with a
subject and a verb) joined by a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression.
Examples: Leonora is planning to become an engineer; however, she is also interested in graphic design
(semicolon with a comma after “however”)
Not all birds migrate south for the winter; cardinals, for instance, can stay in northern climates year
round. (semicolon used with transitional expression “for instance”)

also
anyway
besides
consequently
as a result
at any rate
by the way
Common Conjunctive Adverbs
furthermore
meanwhile
however
moreover
instead
nevertheless
likewise
otherwise
Common Transitional Expressions
for example
in addition
in fact
still
then
therefore
in other words
on the contrary
on the other hand
Use a comma before and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet when the conjunction joins independent
clauses (think: between two complete sentences with a subject and a verb).
Examples: Patrick brought the sandwiches, and Cindy brought the potato salad. (comma)
High school graduates may go on to college or may begin working immediately. (no comma)

for
and
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
but
nor
or
yet
so
Commonly Confused Words:
affect vs. effect—As verbs: affect: 1. to act or have an influence upon E.g. Sunless days can affect my mood 2.
to make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to assume, as, "to affect ignorance”
effect: 1. to bring about or create, as “to effect a change”
If you affect something, you do it, if you effect something, you cause it to be.
As nouns: affect: (rare, so you probably can remember usually to use “effect”) 1. used in psychotherapy to
describe the emotional complex associated with an idea or mental state E.g. He displayed a negative affect.
effect: 1. result, consequence, outcome
An effect is that which is produced when you affect something. E.g., “The poem affected me deeply; it really had
an effect on me.”
conscious vs. conscience—conscience: (noun) awareness of moral or ethical judgment, or any source of this
ethical judgement. Think: Jiminy Cricket.
conscious: (adjective) 1. having an awareness of one's environment and one's own existence, sensations, and
thoughts. 2. intentionally conceived or done; deliberate
than vs. then—than: used as a comparative adjective or adverb. E.g. She is a better athlete than I.
then: usually used as an adverb to describe time, in addition, in that case, or as a result. E.g. I was still in school
then. Come at noon; I’ll be ready then. It’s costs $20, and then there is the sales tax to pay. If traffic is heavy,
then allow extra time. The case, then, is closed.